monosilane

Monosilane, with the chemical formula SiH₄, is the simplest and most stable compound in the silane series, which are silicon and hydrogen compounds analogous to saturated hydrocarbons. It is a colorless gas that is spontaneously flammable in air and decomposes when heated. Monosilane can be prepared by reacting magnesium silicide with acids or by reducing silicon chlorides. While unstable, derivatives where hydrogen atoms are replaced by other groups, like tetramethylsilane, exhibit greater stability and are important in various industrial applications, including the production of silicones.12